Liquid crystal display apparatus

ABSTRACT

In a backlight assembly capable of improving display quality and an LCD apparatus having the backlight assembly, the backlight assembly includes a lamp and an insulating member. The lamp includes a lamp tube and an electrode disposed on an end portion of the lamp tube. The insulating member is combined with the end portion of the lamp so as to surround the electrode and to prevent a heat generated from the electrode from being conducted toward the lamp tube. Therefore, a display quality of the LCD apparatus is improved.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a backlight assembly and a liquidcrystal display (hereinafter, referred to as LCD) apparatus having thebacklight assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates toa backlight assembly capable of improving display quality and an LCDapparatus having the backlight assembly.

BACKGROUND ART

An LCD apparatus, in general, includes an LCD panel for displaying animage and a backlight assembly supplying a light to the LCD panel.

When the LCD apparatus includes a big LCD panel, the backlight assemblymay include a plurality of lamps disposed under the LCD panel andparallelly arranged with one other.

The backlight assembly may include a cold cathode fluorescent lamp(CCFL), an external electrode fluorescent lamp (EEFL), etc.

The CCFL includes a lamp electrode disposed in a lamp tube of the CCFLso that the CCFL generates a light by using penning discharge. A lampelectrode of the EEFL is disposed on external surface of an end portionof a lamp tube of the EEFL.

The EEFL (hereinafter, referred to as lamp) includes a capacitor formedbetween the external electrode and a discharge space so as to be driven.A plurality of the EEFL may be parallelly connected with one another, sothat number of inverters that is necessary to the EEFL may be decreased.

The backlight assembly of the lamp includes a lamp securing plate and amold frame. The lamp securing plate is combined with the end portion ofthe lamp on the external surface of the lamp so as to secure the lamp ata predetermined position. The lamp securing plate applies a voltage tothe lamp so as to drive the lamp. The mold frame includes a receivingspace for receiving the lamp securing plate.

When the lamp generates the light, heat may be generated from theexternal electrode. The heat is conducted to the LCD panel to decrease adisplay quality of the LCD panel.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

The present invention provides a backlight assembly capable of improvingdisplay quality.

The present invention also provides an LCD apparatus having thebacklight assembly.

Technical Solution

The backlight assembly in accordance with one exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention includes a lamp and an insulating member. The lampincludes a lamp tube and an electrode disposed on an end portion of thelamp tube. The insulating member is combined with the end portion of thelamp so as to partially surround the electrode and to prevent a heatgenerated from the electrode from being conducted toward the lamp tube.

The LCD apparatus in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention includes an LCD panel for displaying an image, abacklight assembly and a first receiving container.

The backlight assembly includes a lamp and an insulating member. Thelamp includes a lamp tube and an electrode disposed on an end portion ofthe lamp tube. The insulating member is combined with the end portion ofthe lamp so as to partially surround the electrode.

The first receiving container receives the backlight assembly, and makescontact with the insulating member so as to transmit the heat generatedfrom the electrode to an exterior to the LCD apparatus.

Therefore, the insulating member prevents the heat generated from thelamp from being conducted toward the LCD panel, and transmits the heatto the exterior to the LCD apparatus through the first receivingcontainer, thereby improving a display quality of the LCD panel.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and other advantages of the present invention will becomereadily apparent by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a backlight assemblyaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a backlight assemblyaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partially cut out perspective view illustrating an insulatorof a backlight assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a backlight assembly according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the I-I′ line of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the IV-IV′ line of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating a backlight assembly according toanother exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the II-II′ line of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is perspective view illustrating an insulator of a backlightassembly according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a backlight assembly according toanother exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the III-III′ line of FIG.10.

BEST MODE

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a backlight assemblyaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a backlight assemblyaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the LCD apparatus 100 includes an LCD panel 200 fordisplaying an image, a backlight assembly 300 supplying a light to theLCD panel 200, a bottom chassis 400 for receiving the LCD panel 200 andthe backlight assembly 300 and a top chassis 500 combined with thebottom chassis 400 so as to surround the LCD panel 200.

The LCD panel 200 includes a color filter substrate 210 having a pixel,a thin film transistor (TFT) substrate 220 corresponding to the colorfilter substrate 210 and a liquid crystal layer (not shown) interposedbetween the color filer and TFT substrates 210 and 220.

Referring to FIG. 2, the backlight assembly 300 includes optical sheets330, a reflecting sheet 305, a lamp 310, a first lamp securing plate320, a second lamp securing plate 325, a first insulator 340, a secondinsulator 347, a low mold frame 370 and an upper mold frame 390.

The optical sheet 330 is disposed over the lamp 310. The reflectingsheet 305 is disposed under the lamp 310 to reflect a portion of a lightgenerated from the lamp 310.

The backlight assembly 300 may include a plurality of the lamps 310.

The lamps 310 are parallelly disposed in a direction perpendicular to alongitudinal direction of the lamp 310. Each of the lamps 310 includes alamp tube 311, electrodes 315 disposed on end portions of the lamp tube311 and a discharge gas (not shown) injected into the lamp tube 311. Thelamp 310 includes an electrode area (NA) and a light emitting area (EA).The electrode 315 is formed in the electrode area (NA). The lightemitting area (EA) is disposed adjacent to the electrode area (NA), andthe light is generated in the light emitting area (EA).

The electrode 315 includes an external electrode that surrounds theexternal surface of the end portions of the lamp tube 31. The electrode315 comprises a metal. A lamp driving voltage from an external device(not shown) is applied to the electrodes 315 so as to drive the lamp310.

The first and second lamp securing plates 320 and 325 are disposed oneach of the end portions of the lamp 310, respectively. The structure ofthe first lamp securing plate 320 is substantially identical to thestructure of the second lamp securing plate 325.

The first lamp securing plate 320 includes a base 321 and a securingclip 322 upwardly protruded from the base 321.

The first lamp securing plate 320 may include a plurality of thesecuring clips 322. The number of the securing clip 322 is equal to thenumber of the lamps 310. The securing clips 322 are parallelly arrangedcorresponding to the lamps 310. The securing clips 322 are combined withthe end portions of the lamps 310 so as to secure the lamps 310, and thesecuring clips 322 are electrically connected to the electrodes 315.

The low mold frame 370 includes a first receiving space 371 forreceiving the first lamp securing plate 320 and a second receiving space372 for receiving the second lamp securing plate 325. The first andsecond receiving spaces 371 and 372 correspond to the electrode area(NA). The low mold frame 370 secures the electrode area (NA) so that thelight emitting area (EA) is exposed, thereby improving efficiency of thelight generated from the lamp 310.

FIG. 3 is a partially cut out perspective view illustrating an insulatorof a backlight assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

The structure of the first insulator 340 is substantially identical tothe structure of the second insulator 347.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the first insulator 340 is extended in adirection perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the lamp 310. Thefirst insulator 340 includes a first rod 341 and a second rod 342. Endportions of the first and second rods 341 and 342 make contact with thefirst lamp securing plate 320.

The first and second rods 341 and 342 include a first hole 341 a and asecond hole 342 a, respectively. The first and second rods 341 and 342may include a plurality of the first and second holes 341 a and 342 a.The first and second holes 341 a and 342 a correspond to the first lampsecuring plate 320. When the end portions of the lamp 310 are receivedin the first and second holes 341 a and 342 a, the first and second rods341 and 342 partially surround the electrodes 315 of the lamp 310.Alternatively, the second rod 342 may include a groove or a recess toprevent the axial movement of the lamp 310.

The first insulator 340 includes a connecting part 343 disposed on endportions of the first and second rods 341 and 342. The connecting part343 is integrally formed with the first and second rods 341 and 342. Theconnecting part 343 connects the first rod 341 to the second rod 342 sothat the first and second rods 341 and 342 are combined together withthe lamp 310.

The first insulator 340 includes a third hole 345 extended in adirection parallel with the securing clip 321 of the first lamp securingplate 302. The connecting part 343, the first rod 341 and the second rod342 define the third hole 345. When the first insulator 340 is combinedwith the first lamp securing plate 320, the securing clip 321 is exposedthrough the third hole 345.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the first insulator 340 is combined with thelamp 310, and the first insulator 340 makes contact with the bottomchassis 400 receiving the low mold frame 370. The heat generated fromthe electrode 315 during light emitting from the lamp 310 is conductedto the bottom chassis 400 through the first insulator 340 and the thirdhole 345. The heat conducted to the bottom chassis 400 is transmitted toan exterior to the LCD apparatus 100. The first insulator 340 protectsthe LCD panel 200 from an impact that is provided from an exterior tothe LCD apparatus 100. The first insulator 340 may cover a portion ofthe electrode 315 so that the heat may be easily conducted through thethird hole 345, and the securing clip 322 may be disposed at a positioncorresponding to the third hole 345.

FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a backlight assembly according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is across-sectional view taken along the I-I′ line of FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 isa cross-sectional view taken along the IV-IV′ line of FIG. 4. Referringnow in specific detail to FIGS. 4 to 6 in which the same referencenumerals denote the same elements in FIGS. 1 to 3, and thus any furtherdetailed descriptions concerning the same elements will be omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, a first insulator 340 surrounds electrodes315 of lamps 310.

The lamps 310 are disposed on the low mold frame 370. Each of the lamps310 includes an electrode area (NA) having the electrode 315 and a lightemitting area (EA) adjacent to the electrode area (NA). A light isgenerated from the light emitting area (EA).

A first lamp securing plate 320 securing the lamp 310 is disposed in theelectrode area (NA). The electrodes 315 are confined with a securingclip 322 disposed on the lamp securing plate 320.

The electrode area (NA) includes a clip region (CA), a first region (E1)and a second region (E2). The securing clip 322 combined with theelectrode 315 is disposed in the clip region (CA). The first and secondregions (E1 and E2) are disposed adjacent to the clip region (CA), andthe first region (E1) is opposite to the second region (E2). The firstregion (E1) is disposed between the light emitting area (EA) and theclip region (CA). The second region (E2) is disposed opposite to thefirst region (E1) by interposing the clip region (CA) between the firstand second regions (E1 and E2).

The first insulator 340 is disposed in the electrode area (NA) so as tosurround the electrode 315 disposed in the first and second regions (E1and E2). The first rod 341 is disposed in the first region (E1), and thesecond rod 342 is disposed in the second region (E2).

When the lamp 310 is received in the first and second holes 341 a and342 a formed in the first and second rods 341 and 342, the first andsecond rods 341 and 342 cover the electrodes 315 disposed in the firstand second regions (E1 and E2), respectively. Therefore, the firstinsulator 340 surrounds each of the electrodes 315 of the lamp 310, andthe area where the first insulator 340 makes contact with the electrode315 is increased.

The third hole 345 exposes the securing clip 322 disposed in the clipregion (CA) and the electrode 315 combined with the securing clip 322.The connecting part 343, the first rod 341 and the second rod 342 arecombined so as to form the third hole 345.

The first insulator 340 comprises highly thermally conductive materialso as to transmit the heat generated from the electrode 315 to thebottom chassis 400. The first insulator 340 electrically insulates thebottom chassis 400 from the first lamp securing plate 320.

The first insulator 340 also thermally insulates the heat generated fromthe electrode area (NA) from the light emitting area.

The first insulator 340 comprises a highly elastic material so as toprotect the lamp 310 that is fragile, and secures the lamp 310 toprevent the lamp 310 from drifting.

Therefore, the LCD apparatus 100 includes the first insulator 340 so asto improve a display quality of the LCD apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating a backlight assembly according toanother exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is across-sectional view taken along the II-II′ line of FIG. 7, and FIG. 9is perspective view illustrating an insulator of a backlight assemblyaccording to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.Referring now in specific detail to FIGS. 7 to 9 in which the samereference numerals denote the same elements in FIGS. 1 to 3, and thusany further detailed descriptions concerning the same elements will beomitted.

Referring to FIGS. 7 to 9, an insulator 346 partially surroundselectrodes 315 of lamps 310.

The lamps 310 are arranged on a low mold frame 370. The electrodes 315are disposed in an electrode area (NA). A first lamp securing plate 320is combined with the low mold frame 370, and disposed in an electrodearea (NA). The electrodes 315 are combined with securing clips 322 ofthe first lamp securing plate 320.

The insulator 346 is extended in a direction perpendicular to thelongitudinal direction of the lamps 310. End portions of the insulator346 make contact with the first lamp securing plate 320.

Now referring to FIG. 9, the insulator 346 includes a hole 346 a. Theinsulator 346 may include a plurality of the holes 346 a. End portionsof the lamps 310 are received in the holes 346 a. Hence, the insulator346 surrounds the electrode 315 of the lamp 310 so that an area wherethe insulator 346 makes contact with the electrode 315 is increased.

In addition, the insulator 346 makes contact with the bottom chassis 400so as to conduct heat generated from the electrode 315 to the bottomchassis 400. The heat conducted to the bottom chassis 400 is thentransmitted to an exterior to the LCD apparatus 100.

The insulator 346 includes a first region (E1) disposed between the clipregion (CA) and the light emitting area (EA). The electrode area (NA)includes the first region (E1). The insulator 346 prevents the heat frombeing conducted toward the light emitting area (EA), thereby improvingdisplay quality of the LCD apparatus 100.

FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a backlight assembly according toanother exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is across-sectional view taken along the III-III′ line of FIG. 10. Referringnow in specific detail to FIGS. 10 and 11 in which the same referencenumerals denote the same elements in FIGS. 1 to 3, and thus any furtherdetailed descriptions concerning the same elements will be omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the backlight assembly includes aplurality of lamps 310 and insulators 347. The lamps 310 arc parallellyarranged with one another. The insulators 347 partially surroundelectrodes 315 of the lamps 310. Number of the insulators 347 is equalto number of the lamps 310 so that each of the insulators 347 iscorresponding to each of the lamps 310.

The insulator 347 is combined with the electrode 315 of the lamp 310 inelectrode area (NE). The electrode area (NE) includes a first region(E1). The insulator 347 is disposed in the first region (E1) disposedbetween the clip region (CA) and the light emitting area (EA).

The insulator 347 includes a hole 347 a. The insulator 347 may include aplurality of the holes 347 a. The hole 347 a receives the end portion ofthe lamp 310 having the electrodes 315.

Therefore, the insulator 347 prevents a heat generated from theelectrode 315 from being conducted to the light emitting area (EA), andthe insulator 347 makes contact with the bottom chassis 400, therebytransmitting the heat to an exterior to the LCD apparatus 100 throughthe bottom chassis 400. Hence, display quality of the LCD apparatus 100is improved.

Alternatively, each of the insulators 347 may be combined with aplurality of the lamps 310.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As mentioned above, an insulator is disposed on a lamp securing plate soas to be combined with an end portion of a lamp, and makes contact witha bottom chassis.

Therefore, the insulator prevents a heat generated from the electrodefrom being conducted to an LCD panel so as to transmit the heat to anexterior to an LCD apparatus through the bottom chassis, therebyimproving display quality of the LCD apparatus.

In addition, the insulator surrounds the end portion that is combinedwith the lamp securing plate so as to protect the lamp from an impact,and secures the lamp so as to prevent the lamp from drifting.

Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed, it is understood that the present invention should not belimited to these exemplary embodiments but various changes andmodifications can be made by one ordinary skilled in the art within thescope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.

1. A backlight assembly comprising: a lamp that includes a lamp tube andan external electrode disposed on an end portion of the lamp tube tosurround an external surface of the lamp tube; a lamp securing membersecuring the lamp, the lamp securing member including a securing clipelectrically connected to the external electrode, wherein the securingclip combined with the end portion of the lamp tube secures the lamp;and an insulating member combined with the end portion of the lamp toprevent a heat generated from the electrode from being conducted towardthe lamp tube.
 2. The backlight assembly of claim 1, further comprising:a receiving container including a receiving space that receives the lampsecuring member, wherein the lamp securing member further comprises abase substrate and the securing clip is upwardly protruded from thebase.
 3. The backlight assembly of claim 2, wherein the lamp comprisesan electrode area and a light emitting area adjacent to the electrodearea, a light is emitted through the light emitting area, and theelectrode is disposed at the electrode area.
 4. The backlight assemblyof claim 3, wherein the insulating member is extended in a directionperpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the lamp tube, and theinsulating member is disposed between a clip region having the securingclip in the electrode area and the light emitting area.
 5. The backlightassembly of claim 1, wherein the insulating member comprises a hole thatreceives the end portion of the lamp, a recess that receives the endportion of the lamp or a groove that receives the end portion of thelamp.
 6. The backlight assembly of claim 2, wherein the insulatingmember covers a portion of the electrode, and the securing clip isdisposed at a position corresponding to a remaining portion of theelectrode.
 7. A liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus comprising: anLCD panel displaying an image; a backlight assembly including a lamphaving a lamp tube and an external electrode disposed on an end portionof the lamp tube to surround an external surface of the lamp tube, alamp securing member having a securing clip combined with the endportion of the lamp tube to secure the lamp and electrically connectedto the external electrode and an insulating member combined with the endportion of the lamp so as to surround the electrode; and a firstreceiving container receiving the backlight assembly and making contactwith the insulating member so as to conduct the heat generated from theelectrode to an exterior to the LCD apparatus.
 8. The LCD apparatus ofclaim 7, wherein the first receiving container comprises a metal.
 9. Thebacklight assembly of claim 7, further comprising: a second receivingcontainer including a receiving space that receives the lamp securingplate, wherein the lamp securing member further comprises a base and thesecuring clip is protruded from the base.
 10. The LCD apparatus of claim9, wherein the lamp comprises an electrode area having the electrode anda light emitting area adjacent to the electrode area so as to generate alight, and the electrode area includes a clip region having the securingclip, a first region adjacent to the clip region and a second regionadjacent to the clip region.
 11. The LCD apparatus of claim 10, whereinthe insulating member comprises a first rod disposed in the firstregion, a second rod disposed in the second region and a connecting partconnecting an end portion of the first rod to an end portion of thesecond rod.
 12. The LCD apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first andsecond rods comprise holes receiving the end portion of the lamp,recesses receiving the end portion of the lamp or grooves receiving theend portion of the lamp.
 13. The LCD apparatus of claim 11, wherein theconnector is integrally formed with the first and second rods.
 14. TheLCD apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first region is disposed betweenthe clip region and the light emitting area, and the insulating memberis extended in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction ofthe lamp tube so as to be disposed in the first region.
 15. The LCDapparatus of claim 7, wherein the backlight assembly further comprises aplurality of the lamps parallelly arranged with one another.
 16. The LCDapparatus of claim 15, wherein the backlight assembly further comprisesa plurality of the insulating members, and each of the insulatingmembers is combined with one of the lamps.
 17. The LCD apparatus ofclaim 15, wherein the backlight assembly further comprises a pluralityof the insulating members, and each of the insulating members isconfined with the plurality of the lamps.
 18. The backlight assembly ofclaim 9, wherein the insulating member covers a portion of theelectrode, and the securing clip is disposed at a position correspondingto a remaining portion of the electrode.